Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
Matidor.com
Is the All-In-One Project Management Platform On a Live Map
How Matidor.com StartedVincent and Sean are Vancouver-based serial entrepreneurs who come from very different backgrounds but share one vision. Vincent’s previous experience at Google Earth and as a product manager at Dassault Systèmes revealed a gap in how people in the field managed projects. When Sean moved back to town...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
MSOE
INNOVATION AT THE FOREFRONT
Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) stands as a beacon of innovation, driving forward the boundaries of what’s possible in engineering, business, technology and nursing. With a legacy that intertwines with the heart of Milwaukee’s development, MSOE has become synonymous with excellence, opportunity, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. At the...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
TEDCO
LEADING INNOVATION TO MARKET
TEDCO is Maryland’s powerhouse of technology and innovation, driving progress and creating boundless opportunities. Founded by the Maryland General Assembly in 1998, TEDCO (Maryland Technology Development Corporation) has been at the forefront of fostering an inclusive and entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. Under the visionary leadership of CEO Troy A. LeMaile-Stovall, TEDCO...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
AMCHAM
AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR BRAZIL
The American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) is a non-profit institution present in the Brazilian market since 1919. In more than 100 years of history, it has sought to develop the market in various fronts and currently has branches in 16 cities across the country. Not neglecting its American roots and...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
BOCRA
PROMOTES ACCESS AND USAGE OF COMMUNICATION SERVICES FOR INNOVATION AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
BRIEF BACKGROUND Botswana’s rags to riches economic success story is often compared to that of countries such as United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore. A former British protectorate, Botswana was poor by all standards when it got its independence. By the early to mid 80s, the country’s mineral resource was...
INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo
CONELABS
ENGINEERING A SMARTER, SAFER FUTURE FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
Critical infrastructure faces a dual crisis: a massive portfolio of aging structures is colliding with outdated inspection methods. The hands-on methods of ensuring structural safety are being stretched to their breaking point. This is a challenge that can no longer be met with more hands and bucket trucks, but with...
INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo
THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO
INNOVATION ARENA TRANSFORMS RESEARCH INTO IMPACTFUL SOLUTIONS
NEW FACILITY ACCELERATES COMMERCIALIZATION BY EMPOWERING UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO RESEARCHERS AND STARTUPS THROUGH COLLABORATION AND RESOURCES The University of Waterloo is transforming research into tangible impact through the Innovation Arena, a new space situated within the Health Sciences Campus in downtown Kitchener designed to accelerate the commercialization of research. Waterloo’s...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
ULTRAZONIC
MEDICAL SCOOP TACKLES CURRENT CONTAMINATION WOES
UltraZonic has received a true (medical) world premiere. This Belgian company, specialized in innovative medical cleaning devices, has developed the first semi-automatic pre-cleaner for flexible endoscopes. Not the biggest luxury invention, knowing that endoscopes are popular hotbeds for several bacteria. “Due to great time pressure, staff often miss important cleaning...
INNOVATE® Georgia
THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA
THE SUBTLE RISE OF A TECH HUB
Situated between bustling downtown Atlanta and the tranquil the North Georgia mountains, the City of Alpharetta is emerging as a notable example of how a community can quietly yet effectively embrace innovation and growth. This story isn’t about rapid expansion or high-profile advancements; it’s a tale of how Alpharetta has...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia
FIFTEEN
ARCHITECTURE AS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OPPORTUNITY
As Philadelphia marks its 250th year, the city continues to evolve economically, culturally, and physically. In a World Heritage City, the built environment plays a defining role in shaping how institutions perform, how communities connect, and how opportunity expands. FIFTEEN Architecture + Design approaches this responsibility with a clear belief:...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
ADLER PLANETARIUM
LOOKING UP TOGETHER- Original sky shows in the museum’s two domed theaters encourage guests to look up at the wonders of the universe.
Astronomy and space science are rich with breakthrough discoveries and big questions about the universe and our place in it. In this digital age, stunning imagery and detailed information is readily available—anyone with an internet connection can dive deep into any topic that piques their interest. In an information-saturated world,...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
ENTREPRENEUR FIRST
The World’s Best Place To Find A Co-Founder- Over 10,000 Hours Spent Finding, Assessing And Selecting Canada’s Most Exceptional Talent
Join the world’s leading community of ambitious people who are ready to build. We believe the world is missing out on the best potential founders, and we’re on a mission to change that. Entrepreneur First (EF) is a global leader in cofounder matching, with a track record of 10+...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
DOTS
TURNING UNCERTAINTY INTO GROWTH FROM EUROPE’S EDGE
On the border city of Narva, Estonia – where Europe literally meets its edge – a bold experiment is reshaping how young people grow. DOTS isn’t another youth program or after-school club. It’s an operating system for life: a commitment-based “gym for personal development” where members train through real responsibilities,...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
FIBENOL
DEFOSSILIZING THE FUTURE OF MATERIALS AND CHEMICALS
In Estonia, where wood has shaped livelihoods for centuries, one company is reimagining its potential for the next industrial era. Fibenol is transforming undervalued hardwood and plywood industry residues into high-purity biomaterials that offer sustainable alternatives to fossil-based inputs. Its mission is both simple and bold: To help industries defossilize...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
CDL ROCKIES
ACCELERATES THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF EARLY-STAGE VENTURES
There is an economic transformation underway in Alberta and Creative Destruction Lab – Rockies (“CDL-Rockies”) is playing an important role in that transformation. CDL-Rockies is focused on accelerating the commercial potential of the next generation of promising science- and technology-based ventures across a variety of sectors, including energy and agriculture....
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
POPULAR AND PUERTO RICO
BANKING ON THE ISLAND’S FUTURE
Popular is an intricate part of Puerto Rico’s history. We are the longest serving and the largest financial institution in the Island, and a top 50 U.S. financial institution by assets. We play an important role in Puerto Rico’s economy, and we have supported its communities for over 130 years...
INNOVATION Quebec
NUMANA
LE MACRO-ACCÉLÉRATEUR DU QUÉBEC
Numana est un organisme à but non lucratif (OBNL) québécois et agit en tant que macro-accélérateur en créant, promouvant et dynamisant des projets d’écosystèmes technologiques en TIC. Dans cette mission, Numana regroupe des écosystèmes composés d’entreprises qui utilisent des technologies et d’entreprises qui fournissent des TIC (matériel, logiciels et applications),...
INNOVATE® Georgia
CANTALOUPE
REVOLUTIONIZING SELF-SERVICE: EMPOWERING CUSTOMERS TO BUY IT AND GO
“We are seeing a huge surge in consumer demand for cashless and contactless payment options” As consumer demands evolve and the world embraces self-service as a means of fast, convenient, and secure transactions, Cantaloupe, Inc. (Nasdaq: CTLP), a leading provider of end-to-end technology solutions for self-service commerce, stands at the...
Global Innovation Spotlight
How Popular Are Pickup Trucks in American Car Sharing?
From Workhorses to Weekend Getaways: The Rise of Pickups in Car Sharing
From Workhorses to Weekend Getaways: The Rise of Pickups in Car Sharing Pickup trucks aren’t just vehicles in America—they’re a lifestyle. For decades, they’ve been hauling gear, towing trailers, and getting folks out into the wild or across town with a mattress strapped in the back. But lately, pickups have...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
ILLINOIS HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Helping Latino-Owned Businesses Grow
The Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) is a community of business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals committed to empowering individuals by helping them start and grow their businesses. As the largest community of Latino business owners across Illinois and the Midwest, they represent more than 100,000 businesses. Latinos in Illinois...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
SEARCY FINANCIAL
REDEFINING FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR THE MODERN ERA
In an industry often defined by numbers, Searcy Financial Services stands apart by focusing on people. Founded in 1976 and independently owned by second-generation leaders Jessica Kmetty, Marc Shaffer, John Fales, and Ryan Brooke, the firm has built a reputation not just for managing wealth, but for helping people make...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
INSTASHIELD
Invention and Entrepreneurship Run in the Family
INSTASHIELD FILLS PPE SHORTAGE, DONATES 1 MILLION SHIELDS TO PEOPLE IN NEED InstaShield™ is a new kind of face shield that ships flat and is folded to fit over a cap or visor. The company was founded in March 2020 by Dan Brown Jr. to help fill the nation’s PPE...
INNOVATE® Northern Virginia
Maximus
Reimagining Public Service Through Technology
Across government agencies, digital systems guide citizens through enrollment and benefits programs that support everyday life. Access to those programs depends on infrastructure capable of managing volumes of information while maintaining accuracy and security. From its headquarters in McLean, Virginia, Maximus helps government agencies deliver those services with speed and...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
STEADFAST
MAKING IT WORK
Steadfast began in 1998 as an internet-technology passion project for Steadfast’s Founder, Karl Zimmerman, when he was only 14 years old. Karl’s dream to help companies with their data hosting and security needs started early on, and through these relationships, Karl learned there was a frustrating gap with many hosting...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
Matidor.com
Is the All-In-One Project Management Platform On a Live Map
How Matidor.com StartedVincent and Sean are Vancouver-based serial entrepreneurs who come from very different backgrounds but share one vision. Vincent’s previous experience at Google Earth and as a product manager at Dassault Systèmes revealed a gap in how people in the field managed projects. When Sean moved back to town...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
MSOE
INNOVATION AT THE FOREFRONT
Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) stands as a beacon of innovation, driving forward the boundaries of what’s possible in engineering, business, technology and nursing. With a legacy that intertwines with the heart of Milwaukee’s development, MSOE has become synonymous with excellence, opportunity, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. At the...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
TEDCO
LEADING INNOVATION TO MARKET
TEDCO is Maryland’s powerhouse of technology and innovation, driving progress and creating boundless opportunities. Founded by the Maryland General Assembly in 1998, TEDCO (Maryland Technology Development Corporation) has been at the forefront of fostering an inclusive and entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. Under the visionary leadership of CEO Troy A. LeMaile-Stovall, TEDCO...
INNOVATE™ Curitiba
AMCHAM
AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR BRAZIL
The American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) is a non-profit institution present in the Brazilian market since 1919. In more than 100 years of history, it has sought to develop the market in various fronts and currently has branches in 16 cities across the country. Not neglecting its American roots and...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
BOCRA
PROMOTES ACCESS AND USAGE OF COMMUNICATION SERVICES FOR INNOVATION AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
BRIEF BACKGROUND Botswana’s rags to riches economic success story is often compared to that of countries such as United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore. A former British protectorate, Botswana was poor by all standards when it got its independence. By the early to mid 80s, the country’s mineral resource was...
INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo
CONELABS
ENGINEERING A SMARTER, SAFER FUTURE FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
Critical infrastructure faces a dual crisis: a massive portfolio of aging structures is colliding with outdated inspection methods. The hands-on methods of ensuring structural safety are being stretched to their breaking point. This is a challenge that can no longer be met with more hands and bucket trucks, but with...
INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo
THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO
INNOVATION ARENA TRANSFORMS RESEARCH INTO IMPACTFUL SOLUTIONS
NEW FACILITY ACCELERATES COMMERCIALIZATION BY EMPOWERING UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO RESEARCHERS AND STARTUPS THROUGH COLLABORATION AND RESOURCES The University of Waterloo is transforming research into tangible impact through the Innovation Arena, a new space situated within the Health Sciences Campus in downtown Kitchener designed to accelerate the commercialization of research. Waterloo’s...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
ULTRAZONIC
MEDICAL SCOOP TACKLES CURRENT CONTAMINATION WOES
UltraZonic has received a true (medical) world premiere. This Belgian company, specialized in innovative medical cleaning devices, has developed the first semi-automatic pre-cleaner for flexible endoscopes. Not the biggest luxury invention, knowing that endoscopes are popular hotbeds for several bacteria. “Due to great time pressure, staff often miss important cleaning...
INNOVATE® Georgia
THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA
THE SUBTLE RISE OF A TECH HUB
Situated between bustling downtown Atlanta and the tranquil the North Georgia mountains, the City of Alpharetta is emerging as a notable example of how a community can quietly yet effectively embrace innovation and growth. This story isn’t about rapid expansion or high-profile advancements; it’s a tale of how Alpharetta has...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia
FIFTEEN
ARCHITECTURE AS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OPPORTUNITY
As Philadelphia marks its 250th year, the city continues to evolve economically, culturally, and physically. In a World Heritage City, the built environment plays a defining role in shaping how institutions perform, how communities connect, and how opportunity expands. FIFTEEN Architecture + Design approaches this responsibility with a clear belief:...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
ADLER PLANETARIUM
LOOKING UP TOGETHER- Original sky shows in the museum’s two domed theaters encourage guests to look up at the wonders of the universe.
Astronomy and space science are rich with breakthrough discoveries and big questions about the universe and our place in it. In this digital age, stunning imagery and detailed information is readily available—anyone with an internet connection can dive deep into any topic that piques their interest. In an information-saturated world,...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
ENTREPRENEUR FIRST
The World’s Best Place To Find A Co-Founder- Over 10,000 Hours Spent Finding, Assessing And Selecting Canada’s Most Exceptional Talent
Join the world’s leading community of ambitious people who are ready to build. We believe the world is missing out on the best potential founders, and we’re on a mission to change that. Entrepreneur First (EF) is a global leader in cofounder matching, with a track record of 10+...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
DOTS
TURNING UNCERTAINTY INTO GROWTH FROM EUROPE’S EDGE
On the border city of Narva, Estonia – where Europe literally meets its edge – a bold experiment is reshaping how young people grow. DOTS isn’t another youth program or after-school club. It’s an operating system for life: a commitment-based “gym for personal development” where members train through real responsibilities,...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
FIBENOL
DEFOSSILIZING THE FUTURE OF MATERIALS AND CHEMICALS
In Estonia, where wood has shaped livelihoods for centuries, one company is reimagining its potential for the next industrial era. Fibenol is transforming undervalued hardwood and plywood industry residues into high-purity biomaterials that offer sustainable alternatives to fossil-based inputs. Its mission is both simple and bold: To help industries defossilize...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
CDL ROCKIES
ACCELERATES THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF EARLY-STAGE VENTURES
There is an economic transformation underway in Alberta and Creative Destruction Lab – Rockies (“CDL-Rockies”) is playing an important role in that transformation. CDL-Rockies is focused on accelerating the commercial potential of the next generation of promising science- and technology-based ventures across a variety of sectors, including energy and agriculture....
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
POPULAR AND PUERTO RICO
BANKING ON THE ISLAND’S FUTURE
Popular is an intricate part of Puerto Rico’s history. We are the longest serving and the largest financial institution in the Island, and a top 50 U.S. financial institution by assets. We play an important role in Puerto Rico’s economy, and we have supported its communities for over 130 years...
INNOVATION Quebec
NUMANA
LE MACRO-ACCÉLÉRATEUR DU QUÉBEC
Numana est un organisme à but non lucratif (OBNL) québécois et agit en tant que macro-accélérateur en créant, promouvant et dynamisant des projets d’écosystèmes technologiques en TIC. Dans cette mission, Numana regroupe des écosystèmes composés d’entreprises qui utilisent des technologies et d’entreprises qui fournissent des TIC (matériel, logiciels et applications),...
INNOVATE® Georgia
CANTALOUPE
REVOLUTIONIZING SELF-SERVICE: EMPOWERING CUSTOMERS TO BUY IT AND GO
“We are seeing a huge surge in consumer demand for cashless and contactless payment options” As consumer demands evolve and the world embraces self-service as a means of fast, convenient, and secure transactions, Cantaloupe, Inc. (Nasdaq: CTLP), a leading provider of end-to-end technology solutions for self-service commerce, stands at the...
Global Innovation Spotlight
How Popular Are Pickup Trucks in American Car Sharing?
From Workhorses to Weekend Getaways: The Rise of Pickups in Car Sharing
From Workhorses to Weekend Getaways: The Rise of Pickups in Car Sharing Pickup trucks aren’t just vehicles in America—they’re a lifestyle. For decades, they’ve been hauling gear, towing trailers, and getting folks out into the wild or across town with a mattress strapped in the back. But lately, pickups have...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
ILLINOIS HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Helping Latino-Owned Businesses Grow
The Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) is a community of business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals committed to empowering individuals by helping them start and grow their businesses. As the largest community of Latino business owners across Illinois and the Midwest, they represent more than 100,000 businesses. Latinos in Illinois...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
SEARCY FINANCIAL
REDEFINING FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR THE MODERN ERA
In an industry often defined by numbers, Searcy Financial Services stands apart by focusing on people. Founded in 1976 and independently owned by second-generation leaders Jessica Kmetty, Marc Shaffer, John Fales, and Ryan Brooke, the firm has built a reputation not just for managing wealth, but for helping people make...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
INSTASHIELD
Invention and Entrepreneurship Run in the Family
INSTASHIELD FILLS PPE SHORTAGE, DONATES 1 MILLION SHIELDS TO PEOPLE IN NEED InstaShield™ is a new kind of face shield that ships flat and is folded to fit over a cap or visor. The company was founded in March 2020 by Dan Brown Jr. to help fill the nation’s PPE...
INNOVATE® Northern Virginia
Maximus
Reimagining Public Service Through Technology
Across government agencies, digital systems guide citizens through enrollment and benefits programs that support everyday life. Access to those programs depends on infrastructure capable of managing volumes of information while maintaining accuracy and security. From its headquarters in McLean, Virginia, Maximus helps government agencies deliver those services with speed and...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
STEADFAST
MAKING IT WORK
Steadfast began in 1998 as an internet-technology passion project for Steadfast’s Founder, Karl Zimmerman, when he was only 14 years old. Karl’s dream to help companies with their data hosting and security needs started early on, and through these relationships, Karl learned there was a frustrating gap with many hosting...